Iowa’s week one matchup against South Dakota State might mean a little more than other games to Seth Benson, even though he would probably never admit it.
Before donning the Tigerhawk logo, Seth Benson spent his high school career manning the defense for Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was in the backyard of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. It is no surprise his initial intent was to call that home.
As reported by Inside the Hawkeyes’ Rick Brown, Benson was committed to the Jackrabbits up until the very end. Right before the signing period, the Iowa Hawkeyes offered Benson a scholarship and the rest is history.
As fate would have it, Benson’s final season at Iowa starts with a Sept. 3 meeting with South Dakota State in Kinnick Stadium. This runs much deeper than just a season opener. This one is personal.
Seth’s dad, Chuck, led the Jackrabbits in rushing in 1977. His brother, Austin, also played football for South Dakota State. His mom, JoElle, played basketball there and led the 1985-86 team in field-goal percentage and blocked shots.. His sister, Ellie, played volleyball there. And Seth was poised to follow in their footsteps.
So the choice was this. Continue the family legacy in Brookings or take a bite out of the Big Ten. It wasn’t a decision Seth took lightly. – Brown, Inside the Hawkeyes.
The predicament was clear. Benson’s family is engrained into the South Dakota State athletic department. His father and brother played football there. His mother played basketball there. His sister played volleyball there. It all appeared that he was going to be the next in line to become a jackrabbit.
Making the decision to come to Iowa City was not easy. His decision weighed on him with the distance and what it meant for his future.
“I’m a big family man. That was the hardest thing. I wanted to be a loyal guy, too,” Benson said to Inside the Hawkeyes. “And I had committed to a school and a program (at South Dakota State). I was…
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